What is a prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Proof of Concept

Explorations that test ideas and functionality.

Functional Prototype

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

Appearance Prototype

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Design Prototype

Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Production Prototype

Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.

Prototype Gallery

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

About

This video is just a 8 megapixel prototype . However in production I will use a new and more powerful board with a16 mpxl sensor of higher quality. Support this idea!

New design! Greater compatibility and ease of assembling more camera models.

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Remember when you had long hair and to take a picture you had to load the camera with calm, put on focus and then click? Photo by I'm Back + Nikon F 50mm f 1.2

With I’m Back™ this is still a possibility. Digital and Analog. All in one camera. Photo by I'm Back + Nikon F 50mm f 1.2

Can you believe it is now possible for your old analog camera to make digital photos and videos? Well, with I'm Back you can shoot a video with an old camera of the 50s. Simply plug in I'm Back to your old camera and you're ready to go.

Think at what you can do with the lenses of your analog camera. With I'm Back you can get digital images and video with an "old times" flavour....
If you want to bring back to life the warm and soft shades of colors of vintage cameras, I'm Back is for you.

"In the last 10 or 15 years, people have started a rush in search of pixels. To such a point that they were forgetting the photographic composition. I noticed a decay, a lack of creativity, and the matter of discussion was just how many mega pixels my machine has more than yours."

What really counts is the composition and the appearance of the photography. With the old cameras, people were more careful since they had little or no margin of error while taking picture on a film.

Why not go back to use them again since they still work and they use amazing lenses?

What if there were a digital back that offered you the motivation to use them again (and low cost)?
In addition, what if after taking digital pictures you wanted to use the film roll again just by taking off the digital back? Wouldn’t it be amazing?

I’m Back was born.
A digital back for your 35mm analog cameras! It doesn’t matter which model you camera is, I’m Back is a “Multi-System” that can be adapted to various cameras from the 50s until the 90s!

Take beautiful 35mm pictures with your old analog cameras!

New design! Greater compatibility and ease to assemble with a vintage touch!

Talk About us:

Motivations for having an I'm Back:

"I am glad someone like you have such a great idea. I have a couple of old Camera pass on from my dad, I would love to able to reuse them or give that back to him with your devices, he would be so happy."A.A. Kickstarter member - October 24, 2017

"Hope you make it. Looks like the old Forsher Polaroid back for 35mm testing in the old days . Fabulous ."J.M. From my iPhone - October 22, 2017

"Hi, Congratulation for jour product. You are make my dream."S.F. - www.imback.eu - August 02, 2017

"Just saw your video clip - amazing! I have 35mm SLRs and lenses collections which are sitting in storage for several years..." Y.W. - www.imback.eu - June 30, 2017

Copies on photo paper? Perfect!

Click on the photo to see it or view it in high resolution (Iphone 6).

I’m Back™ launched a successful first prototype on Kickstarter that has been pledged by over 100 people throughout Aug 4 2016 – Oct 3 2016 and raised 325%. Thanks for anyone that an year ago helped our project on Kickstarter!

Now i’m trying again but this time i can finally deliver a finished mass-produced product to you, a good quality and low cost back for your analog cameras.

All the photos and the entire product presentation video were done using I'm Back prototipe in the current version, ie:

Smartphone as monitor (more economical and of better quality in relation to a smaller display)

For video recording: 3.5 Inch Portable Color TFT Monitor

The menu that I will offer open source for those who wish to mount their "Im Back" is in the design stage and as soon as it is ready I will put a video of it.

Raspberry pi Zero W or other little board.

Final Version. Completely assembled and working!In the version that will put the sale already mounted, I will use a hardware (no raspberry PI) and software owned by a supplier and producer of cameras, and therefore, the quality will be higher than that presented here, because it would have a larger sensor (16mpx) and already dispose from a complete menu.

"There is no crop factor? The sensor seems quite small, especially compared to e.g. common APS-C sensors these days..."

There will have no crop factor from the size of sensor. The design of this product is called "Depth-of-field_adapter" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth-of-field_adapter).
In normal digital camera, the image from the lens is directly projected onto the sensor. So the smaller the size of the sensor, the more the image is cropped which we called crop factor.
In this Depth-of-field adapter "digital back", the image is projected onto the focusing screen, is almost 24mm x 36mm. And then we use a digital camera to take a photo of this focusing screen. You can use a SLR, mirrorless or any size of sensor to take this photo from the screen. There is no crop factor." Thanks. A. D. ;-)

It’s actually pretty simple! A focusing screen is placed where normally there’d be a film roll, so instead of creating an image on the film the image is now created on a camera module located behind the body of the camera. The picture is then saved inside an sd memory card inside the back. The picture taken can be viewed either on the lcd display located at the back or on a normal smartphone/tablet and then transferred on your computer.

All you have to do is:

Detach the rear cap from the camera (this works on most cameras between the 50s and the 80s)

Connect the body camera, use the screw tripod

Adjust the exposure “hole” to the camera module installed on the back (8mp camera)

Use bright lenses to not have dark edges. Use apertures f 1.2, 1.4, 2, 2.8 or 3.5. Smaller apertures may darken the edges.

Connect the Sync Flash cable from the camera to the case

CLEAN FOCUSING SCREEN SURFACE USING AIR AND MAKE A SOFT BRUSH IS REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE FOCUSING SCREEN IS AS IF IT WERE THE "SENSOR" OF A DIGITAL CAMERA AND THEREFORE MUST ALWAYS BE CLEAN.

Set the exposure in “B” (Bulb) and you’re ready to go!

Keep the shutter button pressed for 2-3 seconds

View the photo on the display or on your smartphone

The picture is created on the focusing screen which is then captured by I’m Back’s camera module

The area of the photo is the smallest of the whole real camera area, due to the distance between the sensor and the focusing screen. Instead of 24x36mm, it will be realised approx 22x34mm.

In the production phase I will do my best to cover the largest possible area, without compromising the distance of the sensor positioning.

Take pictures! Instantly your old analogue camera will record digital photos with "vintage flavor"

Make videos with your old analog! You can connect your Smartphone and see the picture better!

9 - Production - 2017-2018Engineering & production plastic partsFinal adjustments, realization of molds, production of plastic parts and electronic assembly - DECEMBER 2017 - MAY 2018.

10 - Packaging&DeliveryStart of package delivery for all project supporters.Delivery for the I’m Back Assembled – APRIL/MAY 2018 Packing and start shipping to the world.

2018 - I'm Back™ is Born!

What I’m Back™ is not:

It is not a substitution to film rolls.

It is not invasive since all it takes is to take off the back cover of the camera therefore you can always go back to take analogic pictures.

It is not a competitor against other digital cameras.The main objective of I’m Back™ is to urge the return of the old and perfectly functioning analog cameras with the possibility to see in real time the result of the pictures you take (as other digital cameras do).

Digital back for 35mm analog cameras.Continue where others stopped.

I’m Back™ team thanks you for your help.

Sponsor:

Risks and challenges

I hope I can deliver the order on time, but that as you know is not predictable to 100%. I know that I will have to make the last necessary adjustments and modifications, which can be made only in production and the current design can be modified for the perfection of the product, so I hope you can understand.
Right now I'm working on the menu for users of the raspberry pi and once finished there's going to be an open source software for it.
I am working to offer a photo with the decrease of the dark effect of the edges, and therefore I also hope to provide my product with the best quality possible. As I have done in the previous projects, I will keep you informed of any design changes and improvements that may be made to I'm Back™.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €35 or more
About $41

Early Bird - Plastic parts Kit

For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €45 or more
About $53

Early Bird Plastic parts + Holder Cell

For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
+ 1 Smartphone holder for cameras
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €49 or more
About $58

I'm Back - Plastic parts Kit

For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €59 or more
About $70

Plastic parts + Holder Cell

For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
+ 1 Smartphone holder for cameras
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €89 or more
About $105

2 I'm Back - Plastic parts Kit

For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.

*For Tech Geeks! Plastic parts for assembly. This model is suited for Raspberry Pi Zero, but its possible to adapt it for you board (keep in mind it has to be small). Necessary electronic knowledge in Arduino or raspberry pi, Orange pi or others. Programmable in Python.
FOCUSING SCREEN AND ELETRONIC COMPONENTS NOT INCLUDED.